It was the first of two outdoor games this weekend as the New Jersey Devils took on the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2024 Stadium Series. Many fans braved the elements and cold weather to see the Devils and Flyers battle inside MetLife Stadium across the highway from the old Brendan Byrne Arena. They were not disappointed as Devils captain Nico Hischier led the way for his club.
It was the first game in the Meadowlands for the New Jersey Devils since May 8, 2007. It appeared the home cooking of the Meadowlands did the Devils some good as the Devils defeated the Flyers by a score of 6-3. The Devils’ captain brought his best performance with another two-goal effort for New Jersey in the victory.
Entering the contest, Hischier spoke about how important this game was for the Devils. There was a lot riding on this game. As Full Press Hockey documented in the lead-up to the Stadium Series, these games had some importance behind them, especially for the Devils and Flyers. And you could feel it when the puck dropped between these two clubs on Saturday.
“Big game. It was a big game, a big event, but especially a big game against rivalry. Four-point game here,” Hischier said. “And there was a huge win for us. So, you know, it’s a team we’re chasing. So, I think everybody was ready to play, and that was all business.”
We know the New York Rangers and New York Islanders game will have meaning; the Devils and Flyers had a little more. The Devils have been talking this game up. New Jersey knew this game was going to be important. The Devils were chasing the Flyers in the standings with two massive points on the line.
This was a hockey game, but just on a grander stage, and the Devils captain led by example. Hischier opened the scoring 32 seconds into the game. It was the second-fastest goal in outdoor game history. The assist was given to Ondrej Palat. That line of Hischier-Palat-Jesper Bratt has been rolling. New Jersey took advantage of Philadelphia’s press offense early.
Tyler Toffoli made it 2-0 for the Devils late into the first period. It was Toffoli’s fourth outdoor goal, tying Boston’s David Pastrnak for the most outdoor goals in NHL history. In addition, Toffoli recorded the only hat trick in outdoor game history when he played with the Los Angeles Kings against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2020 Stadium Series at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
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The Flyers dominated the second period in every stretch. However, they still trailed, heading into the intermission. Owen Tippett cut the deficit to 2-1 after a turnover inside the Devils’ blueline. That is something the Devils need to clean up if they want to make the playoffs. It has been an area that has really hurt the Devils this season—turnovers inside their blueline.
Though the Devils had a 4-2 lead on goals by Brendan Smith and Nathan Bastian, the Flyers had a little momentum as Tippett scored his second of the night to close out the second period. It was a powerplay goal for the Flyers. It was the only power-play goal of the game. Special teams matter, considering the Devils were 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
The Devils captain made sure the momentum did not stay with the Flyers. Again, the top line for the Devils went to work. Hischier scored his second goal of the game on a beautiful pass from Bratt as the Devils got an early third-period goal to make it 5-2.
Nico Hischier always seems to step up his game in the big games.
Once again, Hischier backs up his words.
“I think I want to bring something to the table in every game that helps the team,” Hischier said. “I always try to have a team-first mentality and just do whatever I can to help the team, and tonight was a big game, and I knew I had to bring my A game. I think I did that. And I was really happy to help the team way.”
But something about being back at the Meadowlands gave the Devils life. After Nick Seeler made it 5-3, Bastian iced the game with his second goal to give the Devils a 6-3 victory to earn their first win outdoors.
The Devils hope the momentum of winning such a big game can carry over into the rest of the season. They are starting to play better as their captain asked them to before the All-Star break.
” So we’re still chasing, and we just got to keep going. It’s a win for us, like I said tonight,” Nico Hischier said. “And it was, like I said, a four-point game for us. So it just got to keep going for now.”
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